Last month's 3-1 win over fellow strugglers Fulham represents the only victory in 10 games for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side, who have lost three of their last four and suffered a damaging 3-0 home reverse to Crystal Palace last time out.
As a result, the Welsh team lie second-bottom of the table and six points from safety with five matches remaining.
The two teams immediately above Cardiff - Fulham and Norwich City - square off in a vital clash this weekend, meaning Solskjaer's men stand to enjoy full value from a victory on the south coast, with the prospect of their nearest rivals taking points off one another.
One man definitely out for the rest of the campaign is luckless Southampton forward Jay Rodriguez, who saw his hopes of making England's FIFA World Cup squad cruelly ended when he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament at Manchester City last weekend.
However, a trio of Mauricio Pochettino's players - striker Rickie Lambert, playmaker Adam Lallana and full-back Luke Shaw - remain very much in contention to gain a World Cup place.
All three impressed at the Etihad Stadium, where Southampton dominated for long periods in the first half before falling to a 4-1 defeat against Manuel Pellegrini's title chasers.
Following a brief slump in which they sustained three consecutive defeats in all competitions, Pochettino's team have won three of their last five matches and scored 12 times during this period.
